CBMA City

Milwaukee, WI

Total Population

599,498

Black Male Population

107,844

About Milwaukee

AS ONE OF OUR BUILDING BLOCK CITIES, MILWAUKEE RECEIVED A HIGH SCORE of 71 points due to its strong city administration commitment to Black men and boys (BMB), while showing significant need for greater targeted funding, a larger BMB stakeholder community, and coordinated activities supporting BMB. As it is one of CBMA’s core City Strategy cities, CBMA has conducted local webinars, trainings, and meetings, and supported Milwaukee’s Council on African American Males through a capacity-building grant. In June 2017, Milwaukee Public Schools launched the Department of African American and Latino Male Achievement to directly address equity for young men of color.

BMA Life Outcomes

The strongest building blocks currently in place in Milwaukee are Black Men and Boys Stakeholder Community and Reimagining Black Men and Boys, scoring an average of 5.5 and 5.4 points out of 10, respectively. Funding is the weakest building block currently in place in Milwaukee.

WISCONSIN HAS BEEN LABELED THE WORST STATE FOR BLACK STUDENTS STATISTICALLY. WE BELIEVE WE HAVE THE CAPACITY AND WILL TO CHANGE THE OUTCOMES FOR OUR COMMUNITY. WITH THE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM CBMA, WE INTEND TO DO SO. THESE ARE OUR KIDS, AND OUR SCHOOLS SHOULD BE THE PLACE WHERE THEY CAN ACHIEVE GREAT THINGS.”
Dr. Darienne Driver SUPERINTENDENT, MILWAUKEE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

The majority of work and leadership related to issues affecting BMB is occurring on the grassroots/community level and there is a need for greater involvement and coordination with city leadership. Public and business leaders’ participation in BMA efforts is currently siloed, largely uncoordinated, and not visible. Activity does appear to be happening in some individual organizations.

Local organizations, programs and initiatives supporting and/or working on behalf of Milwaukee’s Black men and boys:

Black Males

All Males

22.8%

25.1%

The Latest

The Campaign for Black Male Achievement (CBMA), in partnership with American Express, today announced the selection of 24 emerging leaders from across the country for the American Express Leadership Academy at CBMA. Each recipient was chosen based on their demonstrated track record and continued commitment to improving life outcomes for Black men and boys in their respective cities.

From April 30th to May 1st, the Campaign for Black Male Achievement took its flagship event "Rumble Young Man, Rumble" to the City of Milwaukee for the first time! Read one to check out the NPR radio interview with CBMA VP of Membership Steve Vassor about the event.

In this article, CBMA previews its forthcoming Promise of Place report by highlighting its ongoing partnership with Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS), featuring interviews with both the district's Superintendent and its Director of the Department of Black and Latino Male Achievement.

In June, CBMA convened the first gathering of Building Beloved Community Leadership Fellowship (BBCLF) recipients at a three-day leadership institute in Greensboro, North Carolina. Hosted in partnership with the Center for Creative Leadership and the Beloved Community Center, the retreat was an opportunity for the 24 fellows to bond and build camaraderie with one another, and to learn valuable leadership tools and techniques to advance their BMA work.

The City of Milwaukee is one of CBMA's core "Promise of Place" cities, and where we've built significant partnerships and collaborations to support the important Black Male Achievement work happening there